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Marie, 50, broke her leg jumping from the couple's bedroom window after they were awoken by the fire on Thursday night.

She continues to be treated for her injuries in hospital.

Tragic Tony suffered 60 per cent burns and smoke inhalation before he was dragged out of the house and resuscitated by paramedics.

A group of youths were seen running away from the scene of the attack on the couple's £150,000 semi-detached property.

Inferno tore through house (Image: WMP Handout)

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, from the Homicide team, said: "Sadly one of the victims of this fire has died and our thoughts are with his family and partner at their time of loss.

"His death means that we are now treating this as a murder enquiry and I would like to re-emphasise the need for anyone with information to call us.

"It is thought to have contained around 200 tubes of explosives and would have taken around two minutes to fully discharge," they said, adding: "The property caught alight quickly and gutted the open plan living accommodation."

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Burton is pictured with the mock-up of the fireworks box (Image: SWNS.com)

DI Joyce added: "The impact would have been terrifying for the occupants and I would urge anyone who sold or is missing a firework of this size to get in touch.

"This would have been a large heavy firework that would have been difficult to carry some distance, so I would ask anyone who saw someone carrying a large box in the area last Thursday night to contact us.

"Any information no matter how insignificant if may seem to you could help our investigation."

Neighbours spoke of their shock at what had unfolded on the quiet residential street.

One elderly neighbour who did not want to be named said: "It's really shocking because this is usually a nice quiet area.